Combination plastic container with metal closure



Sept. 14, 1965 H- M. TURNER 3,206,060

COMBINATION PLASTIC CONTAINER WITH METAL CLOSURE Filed Dec. 5, 1962Noumea M. TURNER INVENTOR.

Wi l M fl M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,206,060 COMBINATION PLASTICCONTAINER WITH METAL CLOSURE Howard M. Turner, Oak Forest, 11].,assiguor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporationof New York Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,830 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-67)This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in thefield containers, and more particularly relates to a novel plasticcontainer having a metal closure.

Due to the resiliency of plastic materials normally utilized in theforming of plastic containers, it is difiicult to obtain a good andlasting seal between a metal closure and a plastic container wherein theclosure is of the permanent type as opposed to the type which isthreaded onto the plastic container. Further, it is also desirable toprovide a seam construction between a metal closure and a plasticcontainer of the type which can be formed utilizing conventional type ofequipment with minor modifications.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide a novel container closure assembly wherein the container isformed of a plastic material and the closure is formed of metal, thecontainer closure assembly providing for a permanent interlocking of theclosure with a neck finish of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel seam constructionbetween a metal closure and a neck finish of a plastic container whereinthe metal closure is permanently secured to the plastic container insealed relation and wherein the seaming operation may be performedutilized conventional double seaming equipment now utilized for thepurpose of applying can ends to can bodies, with modifications which areof a minor nature.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel connectionbetween a metal closure and a plastic container neck finish whereinthere is a positive interlock between the metal closure and the neckfinish so as to prevent the accidetnal breaking of the seal between thecontainer closure and the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel plasticcontainer having a neck finish which provides an inwardly opening recessin the inner face of the neck finish, and a downwardly directed exteriorshoulder on the neck finish wherein the metal closure may be interlockedwith the neck finish by an outwardly directed inner portion thereofconforming to the crosssection of the recess, and an outer portion ofthe closure locked beneath the shoulder of the neck finish.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container closureassembly which includes a plastic container having a neck finish and ametal closure, the neck finish being of a varied cross-section and beinggenerally thicker than the thickness of adjacent portions of thecontainer, and the metal closure being interlocked with the neck finish.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel containerclosure assembly which provides for positive interlock between a metalclosure and a neck finish of a plastic container, the neck finish of theplastic container being of substantially the same wall thickness as theadjacent portion of the container and being generally V- shaped incross-section, to provide for the necessary interlock between thecontainer closure and the neck finish.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claim and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top prespective view of the 3,236,066 PatentedSept. 14, 1965 "ice upper end portion only of a combination plasticcontainer and metal closure formed in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the upperportion only of the container and shows the metal closure looselyapplied to the container prior to the actual seaming of the closure tothe container.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 2 and taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1, the view showing themetal closure sea-med to the container.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 3 and shows a modified form of container construction with asimilar closure seamed thereto.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 an upper portion of a container constructiongenerally referred to by the numeral 10. The container construction 10includes a plastic container, generally referred to by the numeral 11,and a metal closure, generally referred to by the numeral 12. Theplastic container 11 is of a molded construction and includes, as isbest shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, an upper neck portion 13 which terminatesin a neck finish 14. The neck finish 14 is thicker than the adjacentneck portion 13 and is generally rectangular in cross-section. The neckfinish 14 includes generally parallel upstanding outer and inner walls15 and 16, and a top wall 17. The top wall 17 is joined to the outerwall 15 by a radius 18, and a pair of radii 19 and 20 join the outerwall 15 to the outer wall portion of the neck portion 13. The radii 19and 20 combine to define a shoulder 21, as is clearly indicated at theright hand side of FIGURE 2. The inner wall 16 is provided with aninwardly opening arcuate recess 22.

The metal closure 12 is of a one-piece construction and includes an endpanel 23 which is connected by means of a radius 24 to an upwardly andoutwardly sloping chuck wall 25. The chuck wall 25 is connected by meansof a radius 26, to an annular top wall 27, which in turn, is connectedby means of a radius 28 to a downwardly and outwardly flaring skirt 29.The skirt 29 preferably but not necessarily has the lower edge thereofreinforced by an inwardly and upwardly turned curl or head 30. It willbe noted that the chuck wall 25, the top wall 27 and the skirt 29combine to define a downwardly opening channel 32 which receives theneck finish 14.

In the application of the metal closure 12 to the neck finish 14 of theplastic container 11, the metal closure 12 is first positioned upon theneck finish 14 as shown in FIGURE 2 and the chuck wall 25 is reformed toprovide an outwardly directed and inwardly opening concave chuck wall 33which is received within the recess 22 to thus form an interlock betweenthe reformed chuck wall 33 and the inner wall 16 of the neck finish 14.During the reforming operation the skirt 29 is also formed around theneck finish 14 and assumes the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 with thebead 30 in engagement with the container 11 below the downwardly facingperipheral shoulder 21 of the neck finish.

It will be seen that once the closure 12 has been secured to the neckfinish 14 of the container 11, it is firmly interlocked therewith. Thearcuate chuck wall 33 shown in FIGURE 3 provides a positive interlockbetween the chuck wall 33 and the inner surface of the neck finish 14.Further, the tight interlocking of the srikt 29 around the outside ofthe neck finish 14 provides for a tight clamping of the neck finish 14between the skirt 29 and the chuck wall 33. In addition, the head 30,which functions as a reinforcement for the lower edge of the skirt 29,is interlocked beneath the shoulder 21 to prevent relative move- 3 mentbetween the neck finish 14 and the skirt 29. It is to be noted that whenthe closure 12 is seamed to the container 11, the end panel 23 of theclosure 12 is recessed within the neck finish 14. Further, since theclosure 12 is permanently secured to the neck finish. 14, in order todispense the contents of the container construction 10, the end panel 23may be provided with suitable openings 35 through which the contents ofthe container construction may be dispensed.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 in particular, it will be seen that there isillustrated a modified form of container construction which is generallyreferred to by the numeral 40. The container construction 40 includes aplastic container 41 and a metal closure 42. The plastic container 41has a neck portion 43 which is reduced and which terminates the upperend thereof in a neck finish 44. Unlike the neck finish 14, the neckfinish 44 is substantially of the same thickness as the neck portion 43.Accordingly, the neck finish 44 has been formed to be generally V-shapedin cross-section and includes a lower leg 45 integrally connected to theneck portion 43 and an upper leg 46, the legs 45 and 46 being connectedtogether by an arcuate intermediate portion 47. The arrangement of thelegs 45 and 46 is such to define an inwardly opening arcuate recess 48in what may be considered the inner wall of the neck finish 44, and adownwardly facing peripheral shoulder 49, as is clearly indicated on theright-hand side of FIGURE 4.

Initially the metal closure 12 has a configuration similar 'to thatshown in FIGURE 2. The metal closure 42, after being secured to the neckfinish 44, includes an end panel 50 which is recessed generally withinthe confines of the neck finish 44. A reverse radius 51 extends aroundthe end panel 50 and is seated in the recess 48. The reverse radius 51is part of a chuck wall 52 which is engaged with the inner surface ofthe neck finish 44 and interlocked below the upper leg 46.

The metal closure 42 includes a top wall 53 which is integrallyconnected to the upper end of the chuck wall 52. The top wall 53 isconnected to the chuck wall 52 by means of a radius 54. A similar radius55 connects the top wall 53 to an upper portion 56 of a skirt 57. Theskirt 57 has a lower portion 58 which is inturned below the lower leg 45of the neck finish and generally engages with the shoulder 49 thereof.The skirt 57 terminates at its lower edge in upwardly and inwardlyturned bead or coil 59 which serves to reinforce the lower edge of theskirt 57. The bead 59 is engaged with the underside of the shoulder 49and prevents upwardly movement of the outer portion of the closure 42relative to the container 41.

It will be readily apparent that the configuration of the portions ofthe metal closure 42 which engage the neck finish 44 provides for thefirm gripping of the neck finish 44 so as to permanently retain themetal closure 42 on the container 41. It is to be also seen that thereis a seal formed between the neck finish 44 and the metal closure 42. Inorder that the contents of the container construction 40 may bedispensed, the end panel 50 may be provided with, a plurality ofapertures 60. The apertures 60 may be arranged in any pattern.

It is to be .understood that the metal closure 42 may be secured to theneck finish 44 in a manner similar to that set forth above relative tothe closure 12. The necessary securing operation may take place within aconventional type of securing device.

It will be readily apparent upon inspecting the two containerconstructions 1t and 40 that the metal closures are securely attached tothe plastic containers in sealed relation thereto and despite the factthat the plastic material 'of the plastic containers is deformable andresilient, a desired interlock is obtained between the metal closuresand the plastic containers. The openings 35 and 60 are normally coveredwith a removable strip of tape (not shown) which is removed by theultimate user.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minormodifications may be made in the container closure assembliesillustrated and described herein within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined in the appended claim. As an example, the openings35 and 60 in the closures 12 and 42 respectively, may be omitted ifdesired when the containers are to contain a liquid or other materialthat is not to be dispensed by shaking. In such case the closures may beopened by means of a beer can opener or other suitable opening means.The closures also may be provided with a tear strip type opening device,said tear strip being defined by score lines and having a pull tabattached thereto.

I claim:

A container closure assembly comprising a pre-molded container ofresilient deformable plastic material having a body terminating at aneck finish and a metal closure permanently interlocked with said neckfinish, said body being defined by a body wall of a uniformpredetermined thickness, said body wall being integrally joined to saidneck finish at a juncture portion defined by an internal peripheralrecess and an external downwardly directed outer peripheral shoulder,said shoulder being axially offset downwardly relative to said recess,said neck finish including the juncture portion thereof beingappreciably thicker than the predetermined thickness of said bodywhereby the strength and integrity of said container is not reduced dueto the presence of said recess, said closure having an end panelrecessed within said neck finish and an inner peripheral wallinterlocked in said recess of said neck finish without substantialdeformation of said neck finish, and said closure also including a skirtportion terminating in a bead locked beneath said shoulder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,170,436 8/39Vogel 2295.6 2,726,517 12/55 Pruett 2295.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 623,368 7/61 Canada.

629,185 10/61 Canada.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE A. DRUMMOND, GEORGE O. RALSTON,

Examiners.

